QualiAss: Supporting high-quality Assessment in Higher Education Tobias Jenert, Christoph Meier AAA/Switch Info-Day Bern 2010-01-13.

QualiAss:Supporting high-quality Assessment in Higher Education

Tobias Jenert, Christoph Meier

AAA/Switch Info-Day Bern 2010-01-13

Assessment: An important field of action for faculty development

Assessment strategies … create a learning culture. (Shepard, 2000, S. 13)

If something is not assessed in higher education then it isn't learned. (Reeves, 2006, S. 299)

Assessment matters in higher Education. (Brown & Glasner, 1999)

Assessment strongly influences students' learning behaviour.

Assessment quality is a prerequisite for the quality of learning in HE.

Assessment: An important field of action for faculty development

Assessment strategies … create a learning culture. (Shepard, 2000, S. 13)

If something is not assessed in higher education then it isn't learned. (Reeves, 2006, S. 299)

Assessment matters in higher Education. (Brown & Glasner, 1999)

Assessment strongly influences students' learning behavior.

Assessment quality is a prerequisite for the quality of learning in HE.

How can we provide teachers in HE with the

necessary skills for high-quality assessment?

Supporting quality assessment: Approaches at St. Gallen university

Brochure "Assessing fair" (Fair prüfen)+ Comprehensive information, manuals & checklists Little impact in everyday teaching practice

Courses & Counselling, Centre for Faculty Development+ Development of teaching skills, personal contact Limited scope

"Faculty Web": Administrative formalities+ Comprehensive, available online Lack of didactic dimension

Information

Develompent of teaching skills

Manualguideline

Supporting the actual design of

assessments?Basic idea: Performance support+ Avoiding formal errors by automating calculations, formatting etc.+ Triggering reflections about didactic aspects of assessment ? Acceptance with teachers

E-Tool for supporting the design ofQuality Assessment: Main ideas

Creating a performance support-tool that would…

• support the actual process of crafting written assessments,

• offer guidance and information wherever they fit within the design process immediacy of support.

• help avoiding formal errors practical added value for teachers.

• triggers reflection about the didactic quality of assessments skills development

"Blueprint" of an assessment helps avoiding formal errors, triggers reflection about didactic quality and offers information "on demand".

QualiAss1: Conceptual work

Risks and Challenges

Teachers"I don't have any problems with designing assessments, but sure, some of my colleagues have!" "Not another tool!" Lack of acceptance/impact on teaching practice.

Faculty developers"Designing assessments is not a technocratic act!" "Why should teachers use such a tool?" Scepticism about the added value of a tool.

IT"We can build it but it will require time and money!" "Have you thought about data security?" Resource-intensity/cost of the project.

Lesson learned for QualiAss2: Be sensitive about risk management! extensive testing with an MS Access-based demonstrator testing involves of teachers and faculty developers reviews and cutoff-point for minimizing risks

Phase 2: Development plan & Milestones

Mile-stone

Description Scheduled

1 Functioning demonstrator based on MS Access is available 2010-02-08

2 Internal testing at FHNW, ETHZ & HSG First revision 2010-03-12

3 Revised demonstrator is available for further testing 2010-03-30

4 Testing with HE teachers- Individual tests with teachers at FHNW & HSG- Teacher workshop at ETHZ

2010-04-30

5 Review with partners and Switch: Go/no-go decision for further advancement

2010-05-30

CUTOFF POINT: Demonstrator will be used for faculty development courses if not developed further

6 Concept for the implementation of on online tool 2010-06-30

7 Proposal for phase 3 Fall 2010

Feel free to contact us any time for further information

Tobias Jenert

[email protected]

Dr. Christoph Meier

[email protected]